Rapist back in jail for child sex bid
A rapist who tried to befriend a “schoolgirl” so he could meet her for sex was snared by paedophile hunters and has been put back behind bars.
Darren Carr was out on licence from a prison sentence for a "horrific" attack on a teenager, who was raped by two men just minutes apart, when he started chatting to a 14-year-old over dating site Meet 24 in July.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the 33-year-old, who was living at Pennywell bail hostel in Sunderland, sent a picture of his private parts and asked the teen to send sexual images back.
Prosecutor Kevin
Wardlaw told the court Carr had said during the online exchanges he "didn't want to be labelled a paedo" and discussed having sex with the
girl.
The court heard the 14-year-old's profile was a decoy account, set up by undercover group Guardians of the North.
Carr was arrested after being confronted by the group and pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.
The court heard Carr has a caution on his record from 2005 for having sexual activity with an underage female.
And in 2012 Carr was one of two men who raped an "incapable" teenager in Newcastle city centre.
Carr was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years behind bars, with an extended licence period of four-and-ahalf years for the attack.
He was out on licence when he contacted the teen profile looking for sex.
Judge Stephen Earl has now sentenced Carr, who is already on the sex offenders’ register for life, to 32 months behind bars with a lifelong sexual harm prevention order
Judge Earl said Carr's previous conviction for rape was "horrific" and added: "The risk the defendant posts is very clear to me, not only in relation to this case, but his record and conduct.
"He is a very serious risk to children."
David Comb, defending, said Carr had been out of prison for "not very long at all" when he made contact with the decoy profile.
Mr Comb added: "Back in the community he found himself isolated from his family, without any support network or protective factors in his life at all.
"Hew asap aria hand the target of vigilante-style abuse."